Strawberry plant named &#39;PS-5298&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘PS-5298’. This new strawberry plant named ‘PS-5298’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California, and is primarily characterized by its large plant size; medium to large fruit size; medium to red fruit color; spreading to reflexed calyx segments; medium to strong skin firmness; good fruit production with good flavor; light to medium green foliage with glossy texture and medium to strong interveinal blistering; and medium to large foliage, concave to flat in shape.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of the U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 60/853,002 filed Oct. 20, 2006.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Fragaria ananassa

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘PS-5298’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry varietydesignated as ‘PS-5298’. This new variety is a result of a controlledcross made by the inventors, Stephen M. Ackerman, Steven D. Nelson, andMichael D. Nelson, in 1997 between strawberry variety ‘PS-592’(patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,903) and strawberry variety designated‘Aromas’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,451). The variety isbotanically known as Fragaria ananassa.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was asexuallypropagated by stolons in a nursery located in Siskiyou County,California, and was subsequently selected by the inventors from acontrolled breeding plot in Salinas, Calif., in 1999. After itsselection, the new variety was further asexually propagated by stolonsin both Siskiyou County, California and San Joaquin County, California.The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years infruiting fields of Salinas, Calif. This propagation has demonstratedthat the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing thenew variety are fixed and remain true to type through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘PS-5298’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions ofthe central coast of California. This region provides the necessarywinter temperatures required for it to produce a strong vigorous plantand to remain in fruit production from April through November. Thenearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderatetemperatures to maintain fruit quality during the spring and summerproduction months.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘PS-5298’, which in combination distinguishthis strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. Large plant size;    -   2. Medium to large fruit size;    -   3. Medium to red fruit color;    -   4. Spreading to reflexed calyx segments;    -   5. Medium to strong skin firmness;    -   6. Good fruit production with good flavor;    -   7. Light to medium green foliage with glossy texture and medium        to strong interveinal blistering; and    -   8. Medium to large foliage, concave to flat in shape.

The strawberry varieties that are believed to be most closely related tothe new strawberry variety ‘PS-5298’ are the parental strawberry variety‘PS-592’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,903) and the strawberryvariety ‘PS-1150’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No 10,780).

In comparison to the similar strawberry varieties ‘PS-592’ and‘PS-1150’, the new strawberry variety ‘PS-5298’ differs by the followingcombination of characteristics as described in Table 1: TABLE 1 ‘PS-592’‘PS-1150’ (US (US Characteristic ‘PS-5298’ PP9,903) PP10,780) 1. Colorof mature fruit Red Red to red Red orange 2. Average fruit weight 23.523.1 17.6 (gm) 3. Marketable yield (gm/plt) 1,362 1,392 1,010 4.Attitude of calyx Spreading to Spreading to Spreading to reflexedreflexed collapsing 5. Firmness of skin Medium to Medium Strong strong6. Time of first harvest Early Early Late 7. Plant size Large LargeMedium 8. Foliage color (upper Light to Medium Medium side) medium greengreen green 9. Interveinal leaf blistering Medium to Medium to Weak tostrong strong medium 10. Foliage glossiness Medium to Strong Weak strong11. Foliage size Medium to Large Small large 12. Fruiting truss positionLevel with to Level with to Above relative to foliage beneath beneath

For identification a series of molecular markers have been determinedfor this new variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance oftypical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘PS-5298’, at variousstages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with colorreproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightlyfrom the color value cited in the botanical description which accuratelydescribe the color of ‘PS-5298’. The depicted plant and plant parts ofthe new strawberry variety ‘PS-5298’ were taken in Salinas, Calif., andare approximately 8 to 9 months old.

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics taken in the monthof June, 2006;

FIG. 2. shows a close-up view of typical leaf structure taken in themonth of June, 2006;

FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit taken in the monthof June, 2006; and

FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of fruit taken in the month of July, 2006.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘PS-5298’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The characteristics of the new variety may vary in detail,depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather(temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type andlocation.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following descriptionof the new variety ‘PS-5298’, unless otherwise noted, is based onobservations taken during the 2006 growing season in Salinas, Calif.These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘PS-5298’ dugfrom a high-elevation nursery located in Siskiyou County, California,during the middle of October 2005 and planted approximately 3 weekslater in Salinas, Calif. The approximate age of the observed plants is 7to 10 months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics areaveraged from four years of data collected from the 2003 through 2006growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are fromsecondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics andmeasurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color termninology where noted follows the Munsell Book of Colors,Munsell Color, Baltimore, Md. (1976).

The following Tables 2-8 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage,fruiting truss, flower and pest/disease characteristics of the newstrawberry ‘PS-5298’ in comparison to the similar strawberry varieties‘PS-592’ and ‘PS-1150’. TABLE 2 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-1150’Characteristic ‘PS-5298’ (US PP9,903) (US PP10,780) Color of maturefruit 7.5R 3/10 to 4/10 7.5R 3/12 to 4/12 7.5R 4/10 to 3/8 Red Red toorange red Red Color of internal flesh 7.5R 4/10 to 4/12 7.5R 5/10 to4/10 7.5R 4/10 to 4/12 Medium red Light red Medium red Length (cm) 4.94.8 4.2 Width (cm) 4.3 4.3 3.7 Ratio length/width 1.15 1.13 1.14Slightly longer Slightly longer Slightly longer than broad than broadthan broad Calyx diameter (cm) 5.0 5.0 4.2 Average weight (gm) 23.5 23.117.6 Size Medium to large Medium to large Small Achene color 5Y 6/8 to7.5R 3/8 5Y 6/8 to 7.5R 3/8 5Y 6/8 to 7.5R 3/8 Achenes per berry 285 304293 Achene weight (mg) 0.64 0.61 0.56 Marketable yield (gm/plt) 1,3621,392 1,010 Predominant shape Conical Conical Conical Difference inshapes Moderate Moderate Slight between primary and secondary fruit Bandwithout achenes Absent or Absent or Absent or very narrow very narrowvery narrow Unevenness of surface Weak Weak Absent or very weak Evennessof color Slightly uneven Slightly uneven Even to even to even GlossinessMedium to strong Medium to strong Strong Insertion of achenes Level withsurface Level with surface Level with surface Insertion of calyx Levelwith to Level with to Level with to above fruit above fruit in the basinAttitude of the calyx Spreading to Spreading to Spreading to reflexedreflexed collapsing Size of calyx in relation to Slightly largerSlightly larger Slightly larger fruit diameter Adherence of calyx StrongStrong Strong Firmness of skin Medium to strong Medium Strong Firmnessof flesh Medium to firm Medium Medium to firm Distribution of red colorMarginal and central Marginal and central Marginal and of the fleshcentral Hollow center expression Moderate Moderate to strong Moderate tostrong Flavor Good Very good Fair Soluble solids (% brix) 8.0 8.0 7.4Time of first flowering Early Early Late Time of first harvesting EarlyEarly Late Harvest period Late March to Late March to Mid April to earlyDecember early December early December Type of bearing Partiallyremontant Partially remontant Partially remontant

TABLE 3 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-1150’ Characteristic‘PS-5298’ (US PP9,903) (US PP10,780) Height (cm) 30.8 31.0 30.0 Spread(cm) 36.8 35.1 28.8 Crowns/plant  5.3  5.0  5.0 Size Large Large MediumHabit Globose Globose Globose Density Medium Medium to open Medium VigorStrong Strong Medium

TABLE 4 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-1150’ Characteristic‘PS-5298’ (US PP9,903) (US PP10,780) Average number 1.1 1.2 0.8 perplant fruiting field Few to medium Few to medium Few Anthocyanin 7.5R5/6 to 6/6 7.5R 5/6 to 5/4 7.5R 4/6 to 5/6 coloration Anthocyaninintensity Weak Medium Medium to strong Diameter at bract 4.7 4.4 4.2(mm) Thick Thick Medium Pubescence Medium to Medium Medium to strongstrong

TABLE 5 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-1150’ Characteristic‘PS-5298’ (US PP9,903) (US PP10,780) Foliage: Color of upper surface7.5GY 4/4 to 3/4 7.5GY 4/4 to 3/4 7.5GY 4/4 to 3/4 Light to mediumMedium green Medium green green Color of under side 5GY 5/4 to 6/4 5GY5/4 to 6/4 5GY 5/4 to 6/4 Light to medium Light grey green Medium greygreen grey green Petiole length (cm) 23.1 21.1 19.0 Petiole diameter(mm) 3.8 4.7 3.1 Petiolule length (mm) 14.0 15.7 9.3 Stipule length (mm)20.7 20.8 14.5 Stipule width (mm) 8.3 8.5 8.4 Size bract leaflets SmallSmall to medium Small Shape in cross section Slightly concave toSlightly concave Slightly concave flat to slightly convex Interveinalblistering Medium to strong Medium to strong Weak to medium GlossinessMedium to strong Strong Weak Number of leaflets 3 3 3 to 4 Petiolepubescence Moderate to sparse Moderate to sparse Moderate to sparsePetiole attitude of hairs Strongly outward Strongly outward Stronglyoutward Stipule anthocyanin Weak Medium Absent or very coloration weakStipule color Light to medium Light to medium Light to medium greengreen green Terminal Leaflet: Length (cm) 9.3 9.5 7.2 Width (cm) 7.6 8.06.4 Length/width ratio 1.22 1.19 1.13 Much longer than Much longer thanLonger than broad broad broad Serrations/leaf 20.4 20.7 19.3 Size Mediumto large Large Small Shape of base Acute Acute Obtuse Shape of teethObtuse Obtuse Obtuse

TABLE 6 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-1150’ Characteristic‘PS-5298’ (US PP9,903) (US PP10,780) Length (cm) 37.4 37.3 38.1 Positionrelative to Level with to Level with to Above foliage beneath beneathPubescence Medium Medium Medium Anthocyanin intensity Light LightModerate Attitude at first pick Prostrate Prostrate Prostrate

TABLE 7 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-592‘ ‘PS-1150’ Characteristic‘PS-5298’ (US PP9,903) (US PP10,780) Petal color N9.5/90.0% R N9.5/90.0%R N9.5/90.0% R to to to N9.25/84.2% R N9.25/84.2% R N9.25/84.2% R WhiteWhite White Corolla diameter (mm) 32.3 30.6 30.5 Large Large MediumCalyx diameter (mm) 39.9 38.8 34.0 Petal length (mm) 12.4 12.1 12.5Petal width (mm) 12.6 11.5 10.8 Petal length/width  0.98  1.05  1.15ratio Petals/flower  5.9  6.0  6.2 Sepal length (mm) 16.0 15.7 13.1Sepal width (mm)  6.2  6.2  5.4 Sepal length/width  2.57  2.54  2.42ratio Sepals/flower 11.8 11.9 12.4 Size of calyx relative Larger LargerLarger corolla to Size of inner calyx Smaller to Smaller to Smaller torelative to outer calyx same size same size same size Relative positionof Overlapping Overlapping Overlapping petals

TABLE 8 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-1150’ Characteristic‘PS-5298’ (US PP9,903) (US PP10,780) Two spotted spider mite ModeratelyModerately Moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible Lygus bugSusceptible Susceptible Susceptible Flower thrips Moderately ModeratelyModerately susceptible susceptible susceptible Powdery mildew ModeratelyModerately Moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible Botrytis fruitrot Moderately Moderately Moderately Susceptible susceptible susceptibleAngular leaf spot Moderately Moderately Moderately susceptiblesusceptible susceptible Virus complex Unknown Unknown Unknown

1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘PS-5298’, as hereindescribed and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above.